Nicholas Morrison Named Dean of Caine College of the Arts

LOGAN, Utah — Nicholas Morrison has been appointed dean of Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts and will begin his service on June 1, 2023. Morrison had served as interim dean since Aug. 1, 2022.

“We are happy that Dr. Morrison has been named as dean of the Caine College of the Arts,” said USU Provost Laurens H. Smith. “He has been with the college since its inception and has served well as interim dean. With his passion about faculty development and student success, we are confident he is the leader that the Caine College needs as it moves forward.”

In addition to his role as dean, Morrison is also professor of clarinet in the Department of Music and the music director for the USU Summer Alumni Concert Band. Morrison has been extremely involved in leadership positions at USU. He has served as the executive associate dean of the College of Arts from its founding until 2020; associate dean in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences; interim head of the Department of Music; interim director of the Interior Design Program; and as interim director of the University Honors Program.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the next dean of the Caine College of the Arts,” Morrison said. “As the arts college of Utah’s land-grant university, the Caine College of the Arts is uniquely positioned to create connections via the arts between the university and the community. I look forward to working with this outstanding faculty and staff to serve our students and the disciplines of art and design, music, and theatre arts. The college has much to be proud of and has a great foundation on which we can build an even brighter future.”

Morrison joined the USU faculty in 1991 as an assistant professor of music. He was promoted to tenured associate professor in 1997 and to professor in 2003. Since joining the USU faculty, Morrison has taught clarinet studio, coached chamber music and has assisted with rehearsing and conducting large ensembles, including the Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra. In May 2022, Morrison was awarded the Cazier Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing consistent excellence over his 30-plus years of serving the USU community.

Morrison received his doctorate in clarinet performance from Florida State University in 1993. He earned a master’s degree in clarinet performance and literature from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.